The LeMars, Iowa, native told the UIU graduates that college and life are about "choices
and what we elect to do with our lives."

Quoting American industrialist Henry Ford, Schultz said: "Whether you think you can
or whether you think you can't. You're right."

Schultz told graduates of times in history and in his own life when decisions changed
lives forever. "I wasn't always a three-star general," he said. "I was a 17-year-old
college freshman when the Army told me I had three days to report to Fort Benning.
And when I returned from Vietnam, I accomplished some of my goals and had a busy life;
but a piece was missing -- I had no degree. I was told that if I didn't get a degree,
my career was over. I contacted Upper Iowa University, and it changed my life permanently.
One day I was in an accounting class getting help from my professor; eight years later,
I'm responsible for a multi-billion-dollar budget using principles I learned at Upper
Iowa."

General Schultz spent 42 years in military service and in the National Guard, advancing
from enlisted soldier to Army National Guard director in 1998. He retired from the
military in 2005 to work in the private sector. Schultz, who also graduated from the
U.S. Army War College and earned a masters degree from Shippensburg State University,
was recently approved as president of the Army Historical Foundation

"Do something with your life. Take advantage of the skills you have. Reach out and
help others who may be shy," he told UIU students. "People went out of their way to
help me when I didn't have the confidence to do the things I'm talking about today.
You can do the same and lead others no matter your official role in life."

Upper Iowa University held two outdoor commencement ceremonies Saturday May 9 in Harms-Eischeid
Stadium. In 2015, about 1,750 students earned associate, bachelor's or master's degrees
from UIU. Of those, 215 graduated from the Fayette location, some 885 completed their
degree at a U.S. center, 338 graduated through online or self-paced study programs,
and 270 were from the international centers in Hong Kong and Malaysia. UIU is one
of the most diverse universities in Iowa. In all, the graduates represented 45 states
and 18 nations.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing
undergraduate and graduate degree programs to about 5,800 students–nationally and
internationally–at its Fayette campus, 25 U.S. education locations, as well as locations
in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering
accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including
online and self-paced degree program. With a focus on developing leaders and lifelong
learners, UIU provides dual enrollment programs for high school students as well as
continuing education and professional development opportunities for learners of any
age. For more information, visit uiu.edu.